• SOURCE: Milton T. Jay, M.D., History of Jay County Indiana, Historical Publishing Co., Indpls. 1922, Vol. II, pp.475-476. Transcribed by Eloine Chesnut.

• John C. BERGDOLL, one of the well known and substantial farmers and landowners of Knox township, was born on the farm on which he is now living in that township, a member of one of the pioneer families thereabout, and has lived there all his life. Mr. BERGDOLL was born on April 6, 1850, and is the son of John and Mary Ann (BOOTS) BERGDOLL, who were among the early residents of that section of Jay county. John BERGDOLL was born in the vicinity of Petersburg, Va., now West Virginia, and became a resident of Ohio, where he was married. In 1834 he came over into Indiana and entered a tract of eighty acres of land in what later came to be organized as Knox township. Jay county, and presently established his home on that place and proceeded to effect a clearing. He did well in his operations, early having been recognized as one of the substantial and influential pioneers of that region, and gradually increased his land holdings until he owned 200 acres of excellent land, to which place in the '70s, he and his sons added a tract of 360 acres. On that farm John BERGDOLL spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on March 13, 1881. In August of the year prior to his death he had made an equitable division of his lands among his children, the homestead site going to John BERGDOLL and his sister Elizabeth, who maintained the household until in March, 1890. John BERGDOLL and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom four are living, those besides the subject of this sketch being Elizabeth. Aaron and Edward BERGDOLL. The other children of this family, now deceased, were William R., Mary J. and Melisa. Reared on the home farm in Knox township, John C. BERGDOLL received his schooling in the early and somewhat primitive schools of that neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood was a helpful agent in the strenuous labors of clearing a timber tract and bringing the same under cultivation. He remained on the farm, assisting his father in development work and in the division of the farm lands received sixty acres of the home place. This he continued to farm and has since increased his holdings to 100 acres and has an excellent farm plant. On March 12, 1890, John C. BERGDOLL was united in marriage to Osa FOUNTAIN, who was born in Ohio, and to this union one child was born, a daughter, Osa May, born on March 3, 1891, whose mother died five days later. Miss Osa May BERGDOLL early devoted herself to the work of the church and is now a missionary in India. Mr. BERGDOLL long ago subscribed his political allegiance to the Prohibition party and is enjoying now the calm satisfaction of seeing the principles of that party adopted by the people of the country at large. He has witnessed the development of this county from the conditions which faced the pioneers and has many interesting stories to tell of the other days.

BERGDOLL, BOOTS, FOUNTAIN

IN, Jay Co.

OH

VA, Petersburg

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(source: Lewis Ellingham - )

• "Descendants of Adam Boots" pp. 674-679 [LDS film#1033425] p. 634A;

• "History of Jay Co., IN" (Indianapolis, IN: 1922) pp. 475-476

(source: Lewis Ellingham - )

• "Descendants of Adam Boots" pp. 674-679 [LDS film#1033425] p. 634A;

• "History of Jay Co., IN" (Indianapolis, IN: 1922) pp. 475-476

• Marriage: Mar/12/1890, Jay Co., IN

i. OSA MAY³ BERGDOLL, b. March 03, 1891, Jay Co., IN; d. Aft. 1922, ?India.

    Notes for OSA MAY BERGDOLL:

        "Descendants of Adam Boots" pp. 674-679 [LDS film#1033425] p. 634A;

        "History of Jay Co., IN" (Indianapolis, IN: 1922) pp. 475-476:

        birthdate, noting her mother died 5 days after her birth, and that she

        had spent her life to church work, in 1922 as a missionary in India